<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-09</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001041803</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PRICESMART INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PSMT</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241721</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCGRORY JACK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.0001 par</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>914382</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Notes</value><footnoteId id="F4"/><footnoteId id="F14"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.0001 par</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>165577</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Notes</value><footnoteId id="F5"/><footnoteId id="F14"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.0001 par</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>619046</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Notes</value><footnoteId id="F6"/><footnoteId id="F14"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>8% Series A Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stoc</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>37.50</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>1000.00</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>14666</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>550</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Notes</value><footnoteId id="F4"/><footnoteId id="F14"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>8% Series A Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stoc</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>37.50</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>1000.00</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>14666</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>550</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Notes</value><footnoteId id="F6"/><footnoteId id="F14"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>8% Series B Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stoc</value><footnoteId id="F15"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>20.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-09</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F9"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>1000.00</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F8"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>250000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Notes</value><footnoteId id="F4"/><footnoteId id="F14"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>8% Series B Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stoc</value><footnoteId id="F15"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>20.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-09</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F9"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>1000.00</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F8"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>250000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Notes</value><footnoteId id="F5"/><footnoteId id="F14"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Purchase Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>35.63</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F10"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-11-07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>0</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Purchase Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>32.13</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F11"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-01-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>0</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Purchase Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>35.00</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F12"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-01-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>0</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Purchase Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>18.29</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F13"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-01-22</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>0</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">No such date applies. The date of &quot;08/08/1988&quot; is reflected on this Form 4 for the sole purpose of providing data in this field to ensure that this Form 4 will be accepted through the SEC's electronic filing system.</footnote><footnote id="F2">No such code applies. The code of &quot;A&quot; is reflected on this Form 4 for the sole purpose of providing data in this field to ensure that this Form 4 will be accepted through the SEC's electronic filing system.</footnote><footnote id="F3">No such amount applies. This information is reflected on this Form 4 for the sole purpose of providing data in this field to ensure that this Form 4 will be accepted through the SEC's electronic filing system.</footnote><footnote id="F4">As director of the Price Family Charitable Fund.</footnote><footnote id="F5">As co-manager of the Price Group LLC.</footnote><footnote id="F6">As director of San Diego Revitalization Corporation.</footnote><footnote id="F7">The 8% Series A Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock automatically converts to common stock on January 17, 2012 and may be redeemed by PriceSmart for cash at any time on or after January 17, 2007.</footnote><footnote id="F8">The 8% Series B Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock automatically converts to common stock on July 9, 2013 and may be redeemed by PriceSmart for cash at any time on or after July 9, 2008.</footnote><footnote id="F9">Transaction pursuant to acquisition of shares from PriceSmart.</footnote><footnote id="F10">Options vest 25% annually beginning on the first anniversary (11/7/01) of the date of grant (11/7/00).</footnote><footnote id="F11">Options vest 25% annually beginning on the first anniversary (1/24/02) of the date of grant (1/24/01).</footnote><footnote id="F12">Options vest 25% annually beginning on the first anniversary (1/17/03) of the date of grant (1/17/02).</footnote><footnote id="F13">Options vest 25% annually beginning on the first anniversary (1/22/04) of the date of grant (1/22/03).</footnote><footnote id="F14">The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.</footnote><footnote id="F15">The purpose of this Form 4 is to reflect the acquisition of Series B Preferred Stock. All other holdings, have been previously reported.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jack McGrory</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-11</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

